Storytelling Through Brand Journalism

People today are inundated with advertising. So much so that they (both consciously and subconsciously) filter messaging conveyed by ads. Estimates of just how many advertising messages the average American sees everyday ranges wildly, as Forbes contributor Jason DeMers observes “Increasingly, marketers are finding that offering more – more copy, more complexity, more information – isn’t working like it once did. With estimates that the average American sees anywhere from 250 to several thousand ads or marketing messages every day, there’s simply no way to keep pace if your strategy is to be bigger and louder. Instead, brands need to think strategically about how to stand out amidst the clutter.”

The public relations industry developed in large part to accomplish that for brands through news coverage and other exposure. With today’s modern audience being more fragmented than ever before, using brand journalism is a strategic way to stand out. If done well, it will engage your key audiences and provide ideal strategic content for social media. Moreover, tapping into the expertise within your organization with good editorial content helps build trust in your brand as this recent Nielsen study, which evaluated how news content performed when compared to branded marketing content.

What is brand journalism?Brand journalism involves telling news-style stories about an organization that resonate with the audience. It means telling them a compelling story in a journalistic way, not bombarding them with information or marketing speak. True brand journalism is well-crafted content that is produced by professionals who are trained in journalism, and connects to something newsworthy in the eyes of your audience.

I have successfully established brand journalism platforms for different universities, and private clients. Email me joe@joeprguy.com to inquire about availability and services.

How can you practice brand journalism?

Cover events and innovations like a reporter would.

Here’s an example of a story I did for American Career College with amazing visuals (teddy bears!)

Another example is this story I did for Brandman University, which connected the event to a newsworthy story (the teacher shortage in California):

When you come across a unique or interesting story within your organization, tell the story like a journalist. Here’s an example I did for West Coast University about twin sisters:

Connect your organization to national trends or external issues larger than your company. That has long been the basis of effective proactive media relations – use this approach for brand journalism as well. For example, here’s a piece about men in nursing for West Coast University that we produced for Nurse’s Week:

Another example is this piece for Brandman University following an announcement by President Obama:

Create a sense of community through short, people-focused features. When you make employees (and students & faculty) the ‘star’ of short profile pieces, it fosters great internal buzz. For example, on my team we do a weekly segment called “What’s on your desk?” and share other short pieces we call Quick Takes.

For more examples of my approach to brand journalism, check out some of these videos below.

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“Joe is one of the best PR professionals in the business. He knows just what to do, who to call, and how to make things happen. His ability to connect and be on point is one of the traits that differentiates him from others. Joe’s creativity combined with his empathy and intelligence make him one of a kind.”